By Sandra Scheller
CHULA VISTA, California — While taking down the Ruth Remember Us The Holocaust exhibit at the Chula Vista Library, a man approached the exhibit asking what was going on.
Having explained that it was a Holocaust exhibit, he stared at our wall of Auschwitz and said that it needs to remain up so the world can see where every Jew should die! The man raised his voice and said, “Jews lie, Jews steal and while they were crying ‘Where is G-d?’ did they know that G-d was building Auschwitz so that tall Jews should die there?” He continued talking about Jews sacrificing animals and that Jews speak a language that is not translatable or understood by anyone else. And that Jews have their own way of communicating. I questioned his freedom of speech.
Talk about being in shock. For two and a half years, Ruth Remember Us The Holocaust was an exhibit that shared the stories of South Bay Holocaust survivors. With over 10,000 students visiting the exhibit along with numerous visitors from around the world, there was never ever a problem until the day the exhibit was being taken down. I question what would’ve happened if this man approached while the exhibit was going up? Chances are it would have been built bigger, better, and stronger, but it definitely needed more than just one person’s vision.
It is my hope that every synagogue, every Jewish gathering will have the best security around them and never assume that antisemitism does not exist. This man validated that hatred toward Jews exists. His accent was from the Middle East, which made me wonder, did Hitler hate Muslims? No, he didn’t. I do not know of any Muslims that died the way Jews did. For thousands of years there has always been conflict in the Middle East, and this made Hitler happy.
Now more than ever, there needs to be a Holocaust museum in San Diego. Survivors that I have spoken to agree, and their hope is to be alive to see this happen somewhere in San Diego. It’s more than a museum. It would need to be a place for research, along with a performing arts center so that music, dance, and performance can speak volumes. The exhibit was just a seed planted in hopes that others would understand that a Holocaust museum needs to exist.
One thing we learned from this experience is that we must have a way to communicate. When something like this happens, we must share it, with everyone. This is not about putting fear into the universe, but bonding together. Keeping eyes open even when they are shut. San Diego Jewish World has been such an important part of our Jewish news and schmooze. We have been blessed with such wonderful celebrations of good news, so it hurts to bring this up. Please stay safe. See something, hear something, say something.
Here is a podcast by Brett Davis that details what happened on August 29:
When Harry Orgovan, president of the South Bay Historical Society, witnessed antisemitism on August 29, the Chula Vista Police Department was notified immediately. ADL was notified but there has been no response as of now.
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Sandra Scheller is the curator of the RUTH – Remember Us the Holocaust exhibit at the Chula Vista Public Library, which tells of Holocaust Survivors who moved to the South Bay region of San Diego County. They included her late mother, Ruth Sax.